RUGBY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19785, 10 May 1926, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE.

FIRST GRADE COMPETITION SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Two Rugby League matches were played on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. The weather was ideal, with the result that there was a good attendance, over 2000 persons being present. The ground was in good condition, and some good football was witnessed. The matches resulted as follows: City 46 Pacific 5 Athletic 24 Kaikorai 2 Christian Bros. 17 Kaitangata ... 8 POSITIONS OF TEAMS. The following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the senior conteSt! ~ Flag

KAIKORAI v. ATHLETIC. The principal match was that played between Kaikorai and Athletic, the latter winning by 27 points to two. iho mst incident of note occurred when X. Mac Kay (Kaikorai) look a penalty kick well outside the twenty-five yards’ mark, the ball striking the bar and rebounding back into the field. A passing rush in which practically all the Athletic backs took part was spoilt by Denniston, who had a clear field m front of him, failing to take the ball. After uninteresting play in midfield the Athletic backs oame away in a nice passing rush, which ended in pulii an scoring behind the posts. M Ilroy converted. A little later Athletic were awarded a free-kick in the . vicinity of Kaikorai’s twenty-live. V orrath took the kick from a very difficult angle, and kicked a fine goal. Almost immediately afterwards the Athletic backs broke away again and scored near the corner. Vorrath failed with the kick. Kaiko- i were awarded a free-kick from the twenty-five, and Mac Kay made a good but unsuccessful attempt at goal. Later Leoffler, the Kaikorai full-back, got well away with the ball, but fumbled badly. After give-and-take nliiy Kaikorai were awarded a tree kick hear the Kaikorai twenty-five, but Vorrath’s shot at goal was unsuccessful. Athletic attacked strongly, but the movement ended in failure, and n forcedown resulted. Mac Kay made a good solo effort, but was brought down near the corner flag. A scramble on the line saw Webber dive across to score wide out. Vorrath’s kick at goal went wide. Halttime was called with the score: Athletic 13, Kaikorai nil. On resuming, M‘lvay broke away with the ball and wriggled his way through the pack, but was brought down. A few minutes later Denniston and Thomas were prominent In solo runs which took play close to the Kaikorai line. Almost immediately afterwards R. Fraser beat a number of opponents and scored under the posts. M Ilroy kicked a goal. Shortly afterwards Loeffler had a shot at goal for Kaikorai from a. free-kick. The effort was a good one, but the ball went outside the posts. Athletic then took play to the other end of the field, and Kaikoria averted a score by forcing down. Vial and Crossan were responsible for a spectacular piece of play which ended up well inside the Athletic twenty-five. Kaikorai attacked strongly foe a few minutes, but a force down was the result. For an infringement, Allen had a shot at goal for Athletic, but the effort failed. Crossan next got away with the ball, but was well stopped by Fraser. Immediately afterwards M’Kay brought play back near the Kaikorai twenty-five with a strong run. After some loose play Denniston, after a strong run, got across the line and scored for Athletic. Vorrath’s attempt at goal failing. A passing rush in which several backs took part resulted in D. Sullivan scoring in a fairly good position. A Sullivan failed to convert. A fine run by N. Mac Kay (Kaikorai) took play close to the Athletic line, but the advantage was nullified by a free-kick. Vorrath broke away from outside the twenty-five and finished up a strong run by scoring under the posts. M’Uroy took the kick, but the hall went under the bar. Kaikorai’s only score came a few minutes later, when Leoffler kicked a goal from a free-kick. The game ended a couple of minutes later with the ball in mid-field, the scores being;— Athletic 27 Kaikorai 2 Mr C. Snow controlled the game. CITY v. PACIFIC. City and Pacific met on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon, tha match starting at 1.45 p.m. A feature of the game was the speed and accuracy in handling the ball by the City backs, who indulged in many spectacular passing bouts. They proved much too speedy for the opposition, which showed a decided weakness in tackling. Although Pacific showed to better advantage in the second spell, they were unable to penetrate the defence of their opponents, and consequently City had a decisive victory.

Pacific set the ball in motion, and play hovered in the centre of the ground for several minutes. Both sets of backs fumbled the ball. Ihe City backs were then set in motion and the leather was handled by several players. It was then passed smartly to Clydesdale, who raced through and scored near the posts. Eckhoff converted. Pacific attacked momentarily, but from some open play near the City twenty-five Cameron broke away, and after making a fine run down the lino scored in a good position, Clydesdale failed to convert. A few minutes later some open play took place near the Pacific line. Eventually the ball went over the lino, where Cameron fell on it. Eckhoff took the kick at goal, but the ball went wide. The City backs were again seen in action, but they failed to hold the ball, and the tide was stemmed near Pacific’s line. A free kick for an infringement gave the Beds temporary relief. City continued to attack strongly, and almost scored, another free kick enabling Pacific to clear. Shortly afterwards Eckhoff beat the opposition badly at half-way by giving a dummy pass, and after making a fine run he transferred to Hickey, who dashed over, scoring near the posts. Clydesdale added the extra points. The City hacks again came away in a fine passing Pout, but P. Hickey was held up on the line, -and the ball was forced. Pacific attacked, and carried play to City’s twenty-live, but further passing by the City backs ended in Connelly scoring near the posts. Clydesdale converted, 'towards the end of the spell Pacific set up an attack which ended in Keen scoring at the corner (lag The same player took the kick at goal but missed. Pacific made a rush down the field, but the ball wont into touch, and half-time was called, the score being City 21; Pacific 3. Pacific showed more dash on resuming. Within a minute or two of the kickoff, the Reds carried play to City’s twenty Jive. Watson then broke away and passed out smartly to Cornish, who raced down the field and scored behind the posts. M’Cabe converted. Pacific again rushed play into City’s territory but after some Jotso play the ball was forced. The Pacific backs wore now playing with more combination. Keen made a strong run down the line, but was thrown into touch near the comer. 'lmmediately afterwards City broke away in a passing rush. Watson made a- fine run, and transferred to Cameron, who had a clear field in front of him. and he scored behind tho posts. M’Cabe had no difficulty in converting Pacific again attacked strongly and carried play close to City’s lino, but a well-judged line kick cleared. Prom a free-kick outside the City twenty-five mark, L Davies had a shot at goal, but the attempt was a poor one. Almost immediately Pacific had another free-kick in a good position, and Keen sent the hall over the bar. The City backs were again seen in several fine passing bouts, and after play had hovered in Pacific’s twenty-five for some time Connolly broke away and, outpacing the opposition, scored behind the posts. M’Cabe converted. F. Hjckev and Mac Kay broke away with the ball at, their feet, and Mac Kay scored. M’Cabc again sent the ball over tho bar. Tho ball was next sent out smartly to Watson, who transferred to Hunt. Tho latter, showing great pace, easily boat two or three opponents and scored near the posts. Tho kick was again entrusted to M'Cabe. who converted. The game ended immediately afterwards. Scores: City 46 Pacific 5 Mr €'. Lcggolt was referee.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS v. KAITANGATA. The match between Christian Brothers and Kaitnngata was played at Kaitangata in ideal weather, but on a ground that was very treacherous ami slippery. Kaitangata won the toss, and elected to play with the sun in their eyes. From the kick-off Kaitangata rushed play to the Christian Brothers’ line, and

from fast following up Rodgers scored a good try, Oliver converting. From the kick-off Christian Brothers rushed play to the Kaitangata line, and Beadle was penalised for offside play. Cusack just missed with the kick at goal. From the drop-out Kaitangata followed up fast, and caught Cusack in possession. The Kaitangata backs started a passing rush, the ball travelling out to Oliver, who beat two men iif fine style and set off for the line, scoring a fine try for Kaitangata. Taking the kick himself, Oliver just missed, the ball falling short. Kaitangata at this stage were putting plenty of life into the game, and rushed play to Christian Brothers’ line, where a scrum was formed five yards out. Kaitangata secured the ball in the scrum, but the five-eighth missed his pass, and Cusack rushed through, and dribbling the ball clear of the danger zone, enabled Christian Brothers to take a hand in the attacking, their backs throwing the ball about in fine style. From a scrum in Kaitangata’s twenty-five', Cusack worked the blind side, and Bennetts scored at the corner, the kick at goal failing. Half-time was called shortly after with play in mid-field. Kaitangata kicked off in the second half, and rushed play to Christian Brothers’ twenty-five. From a scrum near the line the ball came out, but a Kaitangata back missed his pass, and Cusack, rushing through, dribbled the ball practically the whole length of the field, and scored a fine try. The game from now on was very fast, with Christian Brothers doing most of the attacking. The Kaitangata forwards were now tiring, and Christian Brothers scored twice in quick succession. Shortly after, the whistle went for time, with Christian Brothers attacking strongly. The final score was; Christian Brothers 17 Kaitangata 8 SECOND GRADE. Christian Brothers 25, Athletic 2. City 13, Pacific 5. MATCHES AT AUCKLAND. (Pdb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. May 9. ■City 21, Richmond 12. Marist 19, Dovonport 16. Ponsonbv 46, Newton 13. North shore 40, Newton 0. CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITION. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Addington 28, Sydenham 16. Waimariri 20, Woobton 5. Hornby 27, Marist B 0, Marist* A 18, Linwood 0. The last match was abandoned after 10 minutes’ play.

P. W. L. D. For. Agst. Pts. City . 2 2 0 0 81 10 4 Athletic , 2 2 0 0 50 4 4 Christian Brothers 2 1 1 0 .22 45 2 Kaikorai 2 1 1 0 15 35 2 Pacific 2 0 2 0 13 59 0 Kaitangata 2 0 2 0 10 40 0